• Positively Africana By Aimee — Now Nationwide ~ Now serving customers in all 50 states, Open 24/7
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Meet Aimee

About Aimee

Founder & CEO, Positively Africana By Aimee – Business Strategist, Cultural Bridge Builder & Fitness Entrepreneur (Mount Holyoke College alumna, Frances Perkins Scholar)

This page is dedicated to my grandmother, Tate Bikuwe. She is my role model and inspiration.
I am Aimee Salmon. My journey from Congo’s refugee camps to Mount Holyoke College to establish Pioneer Valley’s premier African cultural destination at Level 2 of Thornes Marketplace and nationwide. Positively Africana By Aimee is my love letter to my grandmother Tate Bikuwe. Now I see her clearly. I understand what she was going through as an entrepreneur. Her strength and power. I am called to continue her legacy and passion for entrepreneurship, Ubuntu leadership, and service.

From Congo to Pioneer Valley

My grandmother, Tate Bikuwe, was an entrepreneur and one of the most respected vendors at Virunga Market in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. She exposed me to entrepreneurship early on by watching her lead and operate every day. She taught me that Ubuntu means “I am because we are,” and it’s the living breath of how we exist in relationship with each other.
When Mount Nyiragongo erupted on January 17, 2002, it destroyed our homes but could not destroy our Ubuntu. In the refugee camp that followed, my grandmother immediately began organizing. She created systems for food distribution, established informal markets, and built community structures that sustained us.
In that camp, surrounded by volcanic ash and uncertainty, my grandmother shared her most powerful vision with me. She took my hands and said, “Aimee, this Ubuntu we practice here will flow through your hands to heal hearts in lands I cannot imagine. One day, you will carry this refugee camp Ubuntu to communities across the world.”
That vision lives in me every day. This business is my answer to her prophecy.

Academic Excellence Meets African Heritage

Mount Holyoke College taught me more than knowledge. As a Mount Holyoke College alumna and Frances Perkins Scholar, I studied Psychology and Education with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Organizations, and Society. Mount Holyoke’s business education validated my passion for building businesses.
Mount Holyoke’s strategic leadership training, combined with my grandmother, Tate Bikuwe’s Ubuntu wisdom, created my unique leadership framework. Mount Holyoke’s strategic education allowed me to expand my understanding of Ubuntu and to apply it with boundaries. I am called to protect Ubuntu and our community with strategic leadership. That’s how we protect our community locally, nationally, and globally.

African Ubuntu leadership and Mount Holyoke strategic education allow me to lead with heart, authenticity, and brand.

Ubuntu Leadership: Building Community with Purpose

Ubuntu African Leadership Philosophy forms the foundation of everything at Positively Africana By Aimee. Ubuntu teaches us “I am because we are.” It means individual well-being is inseparable from community well-being.

I lead with both boundless compassion and clear commitment to Ubuntu values. We create spaces where a genuine Ubuntu community flourishes. Where collaboration, empathy, and collective success thrive. This is how I honor my grandmother, Tate Bikuwe. She built her market with intention. She served her customers with excellence. She created a community with purpose. I do the same.

What We Offer

Movement

I'm a Certified Group Instructor and Personal Trainer. Our Afrobeats, Functional Strength, Zumba, and Strong Nation HIIT classes celebrate African rhythms and build the Ubuntu community—In-person at Helix Studio, Level 3, Thornes Marketplace, and virtually nationwide.

Retail

Each piece in our store at Level 2 of Thornes Marketplace tells a story of African artistry and innovation. We are committed to giving 25% of profits to support women in the Congo. We also support select partner initiatives, including the Jitegemee Children Program in Kenya.

Community

Monthly Community Nights and Workshops (member benefits available) celebrate African culture and build authentic connections. Workshops on African wellness, cultural education, and leadership create spaces where Ubuntu comes alive.

Leadership Training

I bring African Ubuntu philosophy to organizations nationwide through leadership training and corporate wellness programs. Available nationwide by appointment.

A Local Heart with National Reach

Positively Africana By Aimee stands as a beacon of African excellence radiating far beyond Pioneer Valley. We’ve grown nationally from our flagship location at Level 2 of Thornes Marketplace, Northampton, sharing authentic African culture across America.
Through our e-commerce platform, nationwide shipping, and digital programs, we bring the same excellence and authenticity that define our local presence to customers nationwide. Every customer transformation across all 50 states proves that my grandmother, Tate Bikuwe’s “bikuwe bikuwe” wisdom, combined with entrepreneurial determination and Ubuntu leadership, transcends geography, culture, and time.

Become a Member

Join our Ubuntu community and unlock exclusive benefits:
  • 10% discount on all retail purchases and fitness classes
  • Priority access to Community Nights and special events
  • Member-only pricing on new collections and workshops
  • Early access to African Ubuntu Leadership Training programs
  • Direct connection to our mission: 25% of your purchases support Congo women artisans

Membership tiers available

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Join Our Ubuntu Community

Ready to experience the power of African excellence and the Ubuntu community?
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Aimee and friends at a vendor event
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